A Report on Academic Integrity and Misconduct in Higher Education

This report examines the concept and importance of academic integrity within educational institutions, addressing the problems arising from academic misconduct. It highlights the role of academic skills such as writing, referencing, and presentation in student development, emphasizing the importance of time management, learning techniques, and study habits. The report discusses the meaning of academic integrity, its significance in fostering trust and goodwill, and the implications of misconduct, including plagiarism, cheating, and falsification. Furthermore, it reflects on the steps taken to reduce problems during the creation of a game designed to teach students about academic integrity, and the development of skills such as IT, communication, creativity, writing, and decision-making. The conclusion emphasizes the necessity of academic integrity in maintaining fairness and transparency within educational institutions, ultimately aiming to uphold the reputation of the institution and foster student success.

Academic Integrity

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK...............................................................................................................................................3
Meaning of academic integrity...............................................................................................3
Importance of academic integrity in higher education...........................................................3
Implications of academic misconduct....................................................................................4
Steps taken for reducing the problems when creating the game............................................5
Reflecting on developing the skills when producing the game..............................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Academic integrity is the process which is used by various institutes for maintaining honesty and
fairness in their functions. It is also helpful for developing effective learning environment for
students. In this process academic skills played the major role for enhancing the student career
growth which includes academic writing, referencing and presentation. All these skills are only
developed when students follow the proper guidance and instructions which are provided by
teacher (Alqahtani and Rajkhan, 2020). The elements which are highly consider for developing
the above mentioned skills in students are time management methods, learning techniques and
student study habits. All these elements played the important role for adapting new knowledge
and lessons from the University or schools effectively. This report will be prepared on the basis
of analysing the importance and concept of academic integrity in the educational institutes and
arising of problems due to academic misconduct. This report will also have covered the solutions
for reducing the difficulties at the time of creating game and developing skills.
TASK
Meaning of academic integrity
Academic integrity refers to the ethical and moral respect which is used by educational institutes
for present their or the student values towards the parents. The ultimate aim of using academic
integrity by the institute is to ensure that basic learning is done in fair manner to all students in
time (Ampollini and Bucchi, 2020). The other purpose of using this method is to enhance the
creativity and unique ideas of the students which is useful for their career growth. This method is
also essential for reducing the access of unauthorised information which comes under the
misconduct activity. This type of activity is mostly done by the students for completing their
various assignments in time. Therefore, it is necessary for students to understand importance of
academic integrity in their life. Because according to this process when students do their work
honestly with authorized resources then the moral respect of their parents and institutes are
highly maintained for long time.
Importance of academic integrity in higher education
In the educational industry, academic integrity plays important role for achieving honest
and moral respect effectively. It means that in educational institutions standards are maintained
effectively with help of various rules and regulations. These rules and regulations are also

essential for developing the trust and goodwill of the academics in front of the students and their
parents. The basic and essential fundamentals of the institute are learning, teaching and
researching. The colleges and schools initiated their own policies for promoting academic
integrity effectively. With help of using these policies management easily identify that in which
work or subject student done misconduct, then according to that punishment will be decided.
Importance of academic integrity for educational institutes are –
 Firstly, academic integrity facilitates talented and qualified student and teachers with
help of effective training (Caleb, 2020). Due to this misconduct are highly reduced in
academics and reputation of institutions are highly increased in front of parents easily.
 Secondly, in good educational institutions self-confidence of the students are highly
increased. Because in that institutes qualified teachers are providing right and effective
knowledge to students for achieving success in their life.
 Thirdly, it also supports the students with influencing their ethics, honesty and morale
effectively. Because effective honesty and ethics help the student to apply the achieved
lesson for getting the reputated job in good company.
From the observation of above information, it is understood that academic institute is an essential
part for any institute (Christensen, Cote and Latham, 2018). It helps to develop the personality
and skills of students and also helps to increase the goodwill of institute in effective manner. Due
to good personality of student their success rates are easily enhanced for long time.
Implications of academic misconduct
Implications basically refer to the problems which are faced by the educational institutes
due to various misconducts which was done by students. It includes plagiarism, self-plagiarism,
cheating and falsifying or forging academic records. Due to happening this type of misconduct
by student’s chances of decreasing the image and performance of institutes are heavily increased.
It leads to increase the negative impression in the minds of the parents and then they did not
allow their kids to their academy for long time. The implications of academic misconduct are
explained below –
 Plagiarism – It refers to using of others ideas, thoughts and of other without their
permission for achieving credit by the teachers and management. Due to this type of
misconduct students stopped using their own creativity in their work which create
negative impact on their performance and their career growth.

 Self-plagiarism – It also comes under the category of plagiarism but little bit difference
is that in this method candidates used the same work which is completed previously. In
this previous work the little bit changes are made by student. Then that work is submitted
by student to teacher for achieving the credit easily.
 Cheating – It is a common misconduct which was done by ninety percent student for
gaining success in short period (Guilbault, 2018). In this method student directly copy the
idea and work of other persons in same to same manner. For example, in exam hall one
candidate copy the answers from others.
 Falsifying or forging – It refers to submitting the duplicate and modified documents of
candidate to the admission cell or university. But it creates high difficulties to the
particular admission officer for identify the actual qualifications and real previous records
of the students. Because mostly institutes select only those candidates who have passion
for their career.
From the analysis of above academic misconduct it is concluded that when any type of
misconduct is happened by the staff and students then punishments are imposed by top level
management. The punishments which impact the career growth of the students are –
 Due to misconduct of one candidate’s demotivation are enhanced to those students who
are very sincere and working hard for their future career. Punishments also decreased the
opportunities of hardworking candidates which is not good for their career growth.
 Due to misconduct or punishment unethical behaviour are highly increased from students
and staff towards management. It means that relations are highly damaged with parents
which leads to decrease the profit of firm.
Steps taken for reducing the problems when creating the game
During my study in college, I got the golden opportunity for developing the game for
teaching the students in which way academic misconduct are reduced at time of doing job. But
the game is basically related to holding academic integrity. It gives opportunity to students for
identifying the techniques which is used for removing the misconduct practices easily.
For developing the game, I initially applied the idea for presenting the importance of
academic integrity in an entertainment mood in front of students. But due some difficulties the
plan was not executed in proper manner which are described below –

 The first problem for me is that the game is not systematically assembled according to the
idea (Iacob, 2021). It means that in my ideas I wanted to highlight the characteristics of
academic integrity which is useful for motivating the students. In this process students
always follow the right direction for doing the work.
 The second problem is that I faced difficulties in designing the graphics. It means that
due to low knowledge in IT field I am not able to give appropriate shape in my ideas. It
leads to enhance negativity in the mind of participants regarding the game.
 Third problem is that framing of appropriate questions regarding this game (Juliardi and
Sudarto, 2021). It refers to at the time of creating game many questions are raised in my
mind. But out of these questions only few questions are able to asked to students. These
asked questions impact directly to the student’s mind in form of motivation.
 Final problem which I faced in game are preparing and framing rules and regulations in
game and it is the most complicated part for me. My ultimate motive is to develop such
type of game which is highly enjoyable for everyone. Through this game student also
easily understand the importance of preventing academic integrity in field of education.
Reflecting on developing the skills when producing the game
At the time of developing game, I have got the chance to utilize different types of skills
which is helpful for developing my career. The skills which I improve at the time of creating the
game are explained below –
 IT Skills – It basically refers to the use of computers or technology equipment’s for
doing the work in fast manner. It means when the game was developed and it was
running in process, I understand the necessity of IT Skills. Then after realizing this skill I
done the diploma course of information technology from the popular institution. With the
help of developing this skill I understand that in which way stop the misconduct
activities. It also helps to find out that in which method attractive graphics and designs
are prepared for game.
 Communication skills – It refers to smooth and effective conversation between one or
more people. At the time of producing game I understand that game is not prepared by
individual. It means that developing game requires more than one individual or a team
with various creativity, ideas and effective coordination. Due to this I get a chance in
college for doing work with various team members. With help of team members, I gain

lot of knowledge about game design and also understand that when we are doing any task
with team efforts are getting decreased and activities are completed in time.
 Creativity skills – It basically refer to unique idea which is used for developing
enjoyable game for others. My main motive is to attract large number of students for
make him understand that academic integrity is an essential element in our life. Because
when we follow the academic integrity effectively then we always chose right dictions
for our career growth. In my institute I get a chance for assemble my ideas effectively
with help of using various creativity in design. This skill supports me a lot for fulfilling
main motive in my game that reducing the academic misconduct by student.
 Writing Skills – It refers to rephrasing or creating ideas in written form with accurate
information. In this game my writing skills are also developed and it is element for
completing game in time. It means when any individual presenting the game in front of
the students, it is necessary for particular individual that they must frame the questions in
written form. In this method the writing skills are developed effectively for long time and
also decrease the misconduct activities easily due to using their own ideas.
 Decision making skills – At the time of preparing games I developed my decision
making skills with help of analysing various types of questions. With help of this skill I
understand important thing that effective decision played the major role in our day to day
and career growth. When we have good decision making ability then we always take
right decision and academic misconduct also reduced in high rate.

CONCLUSION
After the analysis of above information, it is concluded that academic integrity is an
essential part for any institution for maintaining fairness and transparency in their activities
effectively. When institutes maintained their transparency in front of the parents then definitely
relations are highly maintained for long time. The ultimate aim of using academic integrity by
the various institutes are initiate effective policies from the management. It is highly essential for
reducing the academic misconduct in higher rate. Because academic misconduct creates high
threat for the performance and reputation of institute. Good institute image is highly essential for
providing positive environment to the students in long run.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alqahtani, A. Y. and Rajkhan, A. A., 2020. E-learning critical success factors during the covid-
19 pandemic: A comprehensive analysis of e-learning managerial perspectives. Education
sciences, 10(9), p.216.
Ampollini, I. and Bucchi, M., 2020. When public discourse mirrors academic debate: research
integrity in the media. Science and engineering ethics, 26(1), pp.451-474.
Caleb, E .E., 2020. Academic Ethics and Integrity: Rebuilding Trust in the Nigerian Higher
Educational System. Benchmark Journals, 17(1), pp.1-6.
Christensen, A., Cote, J. and Latham, C. K., 2018. Developing ethical confidence: The impact of
action-oriented ethics instruction in an accounting curriculum. Journal of Business
Ethics, 153(4), pp.1157-1175.
Guilbault, M., 2018. Students as customers in higher education: The (controversial) debate needs
to end. Journal of retailing and consumer services, 40, pp.295-298.
Iacob, A. I., 2021. Study on Ethics and Integrity in the Use of Big Data in Analysis and
Research. Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, 21(1). pp.772-781.
Juliardi, D. and Sudarto, T. A., 2021. The Fraud triangle, misuse of information technology and
student integrity toward the academic cheating of UM student during the pandemic
Covid-19. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-
4478), 10(6). pp.329-339.
Kahr, B., McHenry, L .B. and Hollingsworth, M. D., 2019. Academic publishing and scientific
integrity: Case studies of editorial interference by Taylor & Francis. The Journal of
Scientific Practice and Integrity, 1(1). pp.1-10.
Lone, A. H. and Naaz, R., 2020. Forgery Protection of Academic Certificates through Integrity
Preservation at Scale using Ethereum Smart Contract. Scalable Computing: Practice and
Experience, 21(4), pp.673-688.